All cases

"Distressing" vandalism to church roof

August 1, 2024, United Kingdom

The Church of the Holy Trinity and All Saints in Winterton has been badly damaged in what the parish has described as a "disturbing" case of vandalism. Vandals climbed onto the roof and removed parts of it, leaving the stones beside the church. Some services had to be disrupted because of the damage.

Desecration in Lege

August 1, 2024, France

This summer in Lège, a parish was desecrated. The tabernacle was broken and the Blessed Sacrament was targeted.

Volunteers Detained for Peaceful Pro-Life Leafleting

August 1, 2024, Netherlands

Volunteers from the Christian pro-life group Kies Leven have repeatedly been detained while peacefully distributing leaflets outside abortion clinics in the Netherlands. The group insists their presence is non-confrontational and aimed at offering support to women.

Mayor Break-In Causes Severe Damage to Church

July 31, 2024, Poland

On July 31, three men broke into a church in Szydłów and caused €700 worth of damage.

Religious statue beheaded inside Scalini church

July 31, 2024, Italy

On July 31, vandals partially forced open the front and outer doors of the sacristy of the church of Scalini, a hamlet of Arsiero, destroyed a plaster statue of St. Anthony holding the Infant Jesus, decapitated both figures, threw furniture on the ground, attempted break into the donation box, broke a stained glass window in the apse, and tore down a microphone.

19 Cemeteries vandalised: Crosses broken off and stolen

July 31, 2024, Spain

Between May and July, a gang stole crucifixes and images from 19 cemeteries in the province of Toledo. Those responsible have been arrested.

NI Court Prosecutes Man and Woman for Praying in Coleraine "Buffer Zone"

July 30, 2024, United Kingdom

In Northern Ireland, a court is set to rule on the case of a woman and a man who were arrested for praying inside an abortion "buffer zone" in October 2023. If found guilty in the current hearing, the woman who pleaded not guilty faces up to six months in prison. The police arrested them without any prior complaints about their presence on the street.

Theft and vandalism in Sant'Antonio Abate

July 30, 2024, Italy

On the night of July 30, four young people broke into the Sant'Antonio Abate Church in Incisa Scapaccino, Asti. They broke into the entrance door, destroyed the cribs and sacred furniture, smeared the walls with spray cans and damaged the sound system for the services.

Vandals cut off hands and destroy face of statue

July 28, 2024, Poland

On the night of 27-28 July, vandals severely damaged a statue of Mary located at the entrance to the village of Kościuk. The statue's hands were cut off, a hole was punched in its head, its eyes were gouged out and its face destroyed. This was not the first act of vandalism against a religious object in the region.

Arson Suspected Delmenhorst Church: Confessional on Fire

July 26, 2024, Germany

On 25 July 2024, a fire was discovered inside the Church of All Saints in Delmenhorst, which the parish priest suspects to be a deliberate act of arson. The fire caused damage in the confessional and forced the temporary closure of the church.